Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Most come for a relaxing visit or to enjoy their golden years retired in paradise.

Not so much for Artist Angelo Sannasardo, who discovered Puerto Vallarta in the early nineties. "I was working in the Detroit area as an Associate Creative Director for McCann-Erickson ad agency. The job was stressful and so was the weather; cold, gray, snowy and damp. I needed guaranteed sunshine and found it in PV. I instantaneously felt at home." He came here often, sometimes two and three times a year. He later moved to Orlando, Florida, for more sunshine.

The economy tanked in Orlando and left Sannasardo with long periods of unemployment. He spend hours on the beach asking the universe "What am I suppose to be doing?" The answer came to him to go back to his first love... painting.

Angelo realized that he must do this and felt a spiritual calling to do so.

Then he got to work.

People started to take notice of his unique approach. He painted with tempera paints used during the Renaissance, loving the rich, flat color and the unforgiving nature of it. It was real, organic, freeing him up to express himself. He no longer needed to have a "concept," which was always the top priority in the advertising agency. He learned to paint from his heart and soul.

Over the next ten years his art caught the attention of several galleries around the Unites States and Mexico, in places such as NYC, San Francisco, Orlando and Puerto Vallarta.

Now retired, he has decided to move to Puerto Vallarta and be reborn again. He is now working hard to produce more creations for people to enjoy. "I find the people that live and visit here have a sophistication towards art... they get me," he says. "I appreciate that greatly. I have finally come home," he adds.

Angelo Sannasardo's work can be seen online at angelostudio.com, at the ART VallARTA Gallery on Calle Pilitas 213, and the ARTVallARTa Pop-Up Gallery on Calle Basilio Badillo 325. Both galleries are in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta.